LONDON • Maurizio Sarri faces another angry vote of no confidence from frustrated Chelsea fans if he fails to spark his stuttering side in today's Premier League home clash with Brighton.
The Blues manager was subjected to vitriolic abuse and chants of "You don't know what you're doing" from the away supporters at Cardiff on Sunday in response to a listless display that was just six minutes away from becoming the nadir of a troubled debut season.
Although two late goals in the 2-1 win gave Sarri breathing space, keeping alive Chelsea's top-four hopes, it did little to quell the feeling that the under-fire Italian is on borrowed time at Stamford Bridge.
Reflecting the pattern of a term that has been one step forward, two steps back, Chelsea have been turgid of late in the league, showing little cutting edge despite posting high numbers in possession.
A repeat against relegation-threatened Brighton will certainly bring more opprobrium for Sarri, who has already suffered several nights of boos at home this term.
However, with seven matches left, defender Cesar Azpilicueta feels it is up to the players to "create a good atmosphere on the pitch".
He said: "We have to look at ourselves and, if we want to achieve our targets, we have to improve.
"On Wednesday, from the first minute, I know the fans will be behind us.
"We have to give them what they want - fighting spirit, great football, and scoring goals. That's what we both want and we have to pull in the same direction."
While Sarri has taken most of the flak, Gonzalo Higuain has also not escaped criticism over his lacklustre form, with just three goals in 11 appearances in all competitions since joining from AC Milan in January.
Such was Chelsea's confidence that the former Argentina striker would be able to flourish as the main man up front that Alvaro Morata was allowed to leave for Atletico Madrid on a loan deal.
But Sarri has since admitted Higuain, who has scored against only the bottom two clubs in the league, is struggling to "get used to this championship".
Pundit Craig Burley has, however, given short shrift to the maxim that it takes time to adapt to the physicality of English football.
The former Chelsea midfielder told ESPN: "He knows Higuain very well from Italy and he has had a good six months to suss out how football is played over here.
"By the way, it isn't chalk and cheese, it might be a little quicker, but it isn't that much different.
"He is just not playing well and he is in a team that is not playing well.
"If Chelsea do get in the top four or win the Europa League, then it is going to paper over the cracks of the deficiencies of this manager for the long term."
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
CHELSEA V BRIGHTON
Singtel TV Ch104 & StarHub Ch229, tomorrow, 2.35am
Football Athletics Rugby Golf Others Pogba deletes cryptic post after Mourinho axed Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba quickly deleted a controversial social media post of him smiling
Pogba deletes cryptic post after Mourinho axed - SuperSport
adtest.supersport.com/football/premier-league/news/181219/Pogba_deletes_cryptic_post_after_Mourinho_axed
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba quickly deleted a controversial social media post of him smiling after manager Jose Mourinho was sacked by the club on Tuesday. Mourinho was dismissed on Tuesday after United's worst start in 28 years left them trailing Premier League leaders Liverpool by 19 points.
'Caption this': Pogba deletes cryptic post after Mourinho axed
MADRID (AFP) - Mauricio Pochettino will wait until the last minute to decide whether Tottenham Hotspur striker Harry Kane is fit enough to face Liverpool in the Champions League final on Saturday
Tottenham team news: Mauricio Pochettino to make final call
LONDON: The search for Cardiff City's new football star, Emiliano Sala, resumed on Wednesday 36 hours after the light aircraft he was flying on disappeared in the English Channel. Sala was flying from the French city of Nantes to Cardiff for his club debut when the plane lost radar contact off the English Channel island of Guernsey late on
Emiliano Sala: Missing Cardiff City footballer search resumes
Genius's community of contributors powers the world's biggest collection of song lyrics and musical knowledge. Join Our Community Learn How Genius Works. Rank. Top Scholars Today.
Premier League: Chelsea can cope with transfer ban, says coach Maurizio Sarri Description: Maurizio Sarri's Chelsea, who host London rivals West Ham on Monday, are fifth in the table, level on 63 points with fourth-placed Arsenal, who have a game in hand.
Chelsea can cope with transfer ban, says Sarri | Sport24
Liverpool kept the pressure on Manchester City in a gripping race for the English Premier League title with a dramatic 3-2 win away to Newcastle on Saturday.. Victory saw Liverpool, fresh from their 3-0 Champions League semi-final first-leg defeat by Barcelona, return to the top of the table and lead City, who still have two games to play, by two points.
Liverpool back on top with Newcastle win but lose Salah
Mourinho believes the title race is still wide 'open' and offered some advice to Klopp on how to handle this difficult situation. them believe what we also believe: that's it's open
May 31, 2019 · But they were only 3-5 in that stretch despite hitting eight homers in losses to the Astros on Monday and Tuesday. They hit two solo homers Wednesday, accounting for the offense in a 2-1 win.
Stephen Curry Fires Back at Chris Paul After Being Denied
Everton avoided a third consecutive English Premier League home defeat as Kurt Zouma's header and a late goal by Dominic Calvert-Lewin earned them a flattering 2-0 victory over Bournemouth. At a rainy Goodison Park on Sunday in Liverpool, there were grumblings of discontent from the home fans as
Everton ride luck for 2-0 home victory over Bournemouth
Manchester United caretaker boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says the owners of Norwegian club Molde sent him to Old Trafford with their blessing and asked him to try to turn his temporary stint at the
Best Soccer Goalkeepers in the World "Goalkeepers are different," to invoke the title of soccer writing legend Brian Glanville's 1971 novel. And there are many differences between goalkeepers, especially at this point in the game's development. The goalkeeper used to be a separate entity from the rest of the team.
The Goalkeeping Mindset - Just4Keepers US
Jose Mourinho could remain with Manchester United until the end of the 2020-21 season after he agreed a new contract with the Premier League giants. The 54-year-old's reign at Old Trafford has brought silverware, famous wins, transfer coups, controversy and antagonism - very much a microcosm of his stellar career.
Jose Mourinho sacked: His Manchester United highs and lows
Everton ease past Burnley to keep Europa League dream alive Marco Silva's side moved into eighth place on the Premier League leaderboard, one point behind seventh-place Wolverhampton Wanderers
Everton ease past Burnley to keep Europa League dream alive
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer says Manchester United are not scared of playing the second leg of their Champions League quarter-final against at the Camp Nou after drawing Barcelona on Friday. United were originally drawn to play at Barcelona in the first leg, which would have given them the safety net of
Manchester United vs Barcelona: Sergio Busquets should have
bigsportsnews.com/soccer/manchester-united-vs-barcelona-sergio-busquets-should-have-been-sent-off-says-ole-gunnar-solskjaer/
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer was disappointed that Sergio Busquets was not sent off during Manchester United's 1-0 defeat by Barcelona on Wednesday night. United have another mountain to climb in this year's Champions League after losing the home leg of their quarter-final tie against the Catalans.
Solskjaer aims to replicate spirit of '99 at Manchester United
Jurgen Klopp says his Liverpool team could not have done anything more after they finished just behind defending champions Manchester City. Klopp: Liverpool 'did all we could' in Premier League
Liverpool news: Jurgen Klopp says Reds could not have done
0 comments:
Post a Comment